Into the Deep End

Nine:

For Anne1Tudor

_

Life had turned pretty much back to normal, or as normal as Elena could get, Kol had made himself quite comfortable in the Gilbert's home, opening up himself to Jermey and Elena; it was as if Elena had an older brother and Jeremy had a friend.

An Original, but Elena wasn't going to judge – at least he was staying away from drugs.

Now the three of them sat in front of the T.V skimming the DVD collection as it was movie night, a Gilbert family tradition that Miranda started when they were little and still is in effect to this day – If they couldn't find anything to watch, on DVD they had Netflix and HBO.

Caroline and Tyler were running late, Bonnie didn't want to be in the same room as a vampire and wouldn't listen to Elena as the doppelganger called her out on Bonnie's hypocrisy.

Bonnie didn't want to be around vampires, yet she teamed up with Stefan and Damon. Who both were, shocker, vampires!

"When has Bonnie been so judgey?"

"She's always been like that, Elena." Caroline spoke over the phone. "Just not to you."

Elena was about to respond when the doorbell rang. "I'll see you soon, Care."

Opening the door as she pocketed her phone, Elena groaned as both Salvatore brothers stood on her front doorstep. "What do you both want now?"

"It's movie night," Damon replied, holding up a bottle of scotch and a bucket of microwavable popcorn.

Elena arched an eyebrow at Damon's statement, completely ignoring Stefan. "And?"

"Come on, Elena. You can't stay mad at Stefan forever."

"I'm pretty sure I can, Damon." Elena hisses, making the vampire brothers look at her with wide eyes. "He treated us all like crap for months all because of his hatred for Klaus. Hate is an emotion, Damon – Stefan had his humanity on this whole time. So he treated his friends, his girlfriend and even his brother for like shit for what? Petty fucken revenge and where did it get him? Nowhere!"

"Elena – .."

"And he hasn't even apologized." Elena hissed, glaring at Stefan – who lowered his head in shame. "Threatened to turn anyone else into a vampire against their will or drove them off a bridge and leave them to fend for themselves lately?"

"He's sorry- Okay?"

"I don't need or want an apology from you." Elena glared at Damon, who rolled his eyes at her stubbornness – where was the Elena Gilbert that would forgive them so easily?

He missed that girl.

"Elena-."

"No."

Damon took a step forwards, but somehow was pushed up against the wall by someone. "The lady said no."

"Great, one of Klaus's dogs are here." Damon groaned, rolling his eyes.

The male hybrid let out a small growl, he was flanked by another hybrid, a female this time.

"Hey, it's okay... You can let him go - ... Uh." Elena spoke, tapping the unknown male hybrid on the shoulder. "What do I call you?"

"Derek." The male hybrid introduced himself, with a small smile towards Elena. "And that is my cousin, Chyanne."